Laura Lodema (Brown) France (1849-1928)

BALDNER, BROWN, DONLY, FISHER, FRANCE, FRASIER, KLASS, MCGREGOR, PRINGLE, ROBINSON

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:43

April 10, 1849 --- December 14, 1928

Mrs. Richard France died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Donly on Friday, Dec. 14, at the age of 79 years, eight months and five [four] days. For several months she has been unable to keep house for herself and has made her home with her daughters here. Funeral services were held at the First M. E. church at 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon. Interment was made in the Rose Hill cemetery.

The following obituary was prepared by Rev. W. G. Muhleman.

Obituary

Laura Lodema Brown was born April 9 [10], 1849 in Kendall county, N.Y. When she was three years of age she came with her parents to Neenah, Wis., where they settled on a farm and where she lived until the time of her marriage. She was united in marriage with Richard France on Nov. 14, 1867. They continued to make their home near Neenah till in 1876 when they came to Iowa and settled on a farm seven miles east of Woolstock.

In March 1908 they moved to Eagle Grove where they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

Mr. France passed away on July 1, 1920. Since then Mrs. France has made her home on East Broadway. For several months she has not been able to care for her self and has made her home with her daughters in Eagle Grove. On Thanksgiving day she was out for an auto ride. Two weeks ago she had a bad spell from which she never recovered. She passed away at a little after noon on Dec. 14, 1928.

When she was a girl she taught school in Wisconsin.

The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. France; Mrs. Alma Klass of Doon, Iowa; Mrs. Hattie Baldner of Eagle Grove; Mrs. Eleanor Pringle of Webster City; Mrs. Frankie Fisher, Mrs. Edith Donly of Eagle Grove; Richard A. France of Evanston, Ill.; and Jessie Frasier of Rice Lake, Wis.

When she was only a girl of 12 years she was converted in a M. E. camp meeting.. She was a member of the Woolstock M. E. church but in May, 1906 [1908] she was received into [unreadable print] Rev. [unreadable print] M. [unreadable print]. She was a very fine, sweet dispositioned little woman. She was always so interested in the church work and was a good supporter of the work as well. She was in the last services held in the old church and gave her testimony. She gave liberally to the building of the new. Her pastor has found few people who were more in crested in the work with and for young people than was Mrs. France. She never lost her interest in public affairs. When the radio was made possible, she was among the first to get one and used to tune in to meetings of every kind during the week and as she was unable to attend her church she tuned in where sermons were being preached and listened to them from morning till night. She was also a member of the Eastern Star, the Rebekahs and the W. R. C.

Her early life as a pioneer’s wife was filled with hardships. She used to hunt and because she was a sure shot she kept the family pretty well supplied with fresh meat in those early days.

Her last feeble words were positive assurance of her faith and trust in God as her Father and in Christ as her Savior.

Aside from the members of her family already mentioned she leaves 29 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Myrtie Robinson of Neenah, Wis., and Mrs. Inez McGregor of Alburg Antor, Vt., and many friends.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
December 20, 1928

Transcriber’s Note: According to the Iowa, Death Records, 1920-1940 for Lora L. France Date of Birth: April 10, 1849 Age: 79 years Months: 8 Days: 4 Date of Death: December 14, 1928 Cause of Death: Old Age, Arteriosclerosis